Bedouin Techno: Party Music from the Arab World
Originally Published in Electric Castle 2020, 2022
People who listen to obscure music from the Arab world have known Omar Souleyman for a long time. The Syrian born singer, currently living
in Turkey for obvious reasons, became popular in the Western world following the release of three albums by the American label Sublime Frequencies
a record company specializing in music from the most exotic places in the world. In 2017, he signed with Mad Decent, Diplo's label. This might a
weird combo considering Omar Souleyman is not a DJ and is not into EDM.
Instead, he sings in Arabic on top of divine electronic harmonics. He doesn't speak a single word of English, but this hasn't stopped him from
performing live all over Europe and the United States. Basically, he has taught the entire Western world what the deal is with Arabic party music.
And how to dance with your shoulders. Yes, he promoted a dance named 'dabke', which matches perfectly with his music. Look it up on the web
and you'll see what I'm talking about. You still have a couple of months to learn to master it, before making shoulder moves in the fields of Bontida.
Here are a couple of other interesting facts about Omar Souleyman:
he was a farmer he was a farmer*
he was a farmer he was a farmer
he was a farmer he was a farmer
he was a farmer he was a farmer
before he became
a s i n g e r
before he became
a s i n g e r
before he became
a s i n g e r
he was a farmer he was a farmer
he was a farmer he was a farmer
he was a farmer he was a farmer
he was a farmer he was a farmer*
Omar Souleyman is not your typical singer born with the mic in his hand. He took up singing rather late, at around the age of 30. Before changing
careers, he was a humble farmer. Then he started singing at weddings. He was some sort of a fiddler. Unfortunately, everything changed when the
civil war broke out and he had to flee the country.
* he hundreds .
* released *
. of albums *
Even though he began his singing career at the age of 30, Omar Souleyman made up for the time spent on the fields, away from the stage. Over 600
albums with his live shows have been released. Many of his wedding gigs have been audio-taped and sold in markets. The only issue is that many albums
have been lost. Again, because of the Syrian civil war. Anyway, Omar Souleyman is one of the most prolific singers in Syrian history. His manager
declared for Crack Magazine that Omar doesn't understand the meaning of the word 'break'.
he collaborated w/
Bjork and Four Tet
he is pro-
filic
***
**
*
.
In 2011, when his music started to emerge at hipster parties in Europe, Omar Souleyman remixed Bjork's song Crystalline. It sounds very differently
from the original version on Biophilia. Who would have thought that a former Syrian farmer would end up collaborating with the most celebrated
Icelandic artist? Omar has also collaborated with Four Tet, who produced several of his tracks on Wenu Wenu and Bahdeni Nami.
.
*
**
***
He preformed
at the 2013 Nobel
Prize Ceramony
Omar Souleyman comes from a war-stricken region. Nonetheless, his music is super happy. All his songs sound like a party. Including the song he
performed in the concert organized during the 2013 Peace Nobel Prize awarding ceremony. His music is entirely positive. You don't understand the
language, but you feel the vibe rooted from his Bedouin identity. Even the luxury fashion house "Balenciaga" hired Omar to perform at a after party
for their latest collection on the sidelines of Paris Fashion Week 2022.